Whitstable is an old seaside town in Kent, about 5 miles north of Canterbury.
It's lovingly referred to as the "Pearl of Kent", owing both to its ambiance and its oysters.
Oysters are known to have been collected in the area since at least Roman times, but the town's marquee event - The Whitstable Oyster Festival - traces its history back (only) to the Middle Ages.
This nine-day affair kicks off on the nearest Saturday to the day of Saint James, the patron saint of oysters, which falls in late July, at the close of the oyster season.
The festival opens ceremoniously with the "Landing of the Catch", where the oysters are blessed by the local clergy, and presented to the Lord Mayor (above, right).
The oysters are then transported in a horse-drawn carriage through the main streets of the town, stopping to deliver the catch to local restaurants, cafes, and pubs.
This year’s procession was led by Captain Sam (the "Whitstable Giant"), and accompanied by oyster-lovers of all ages.
The subsequent events included competitions, folk art, and traditional dancing.
And, of course, oyster-eating.
We found these Morris men (Wikipedia) dancing from pub to pub before the festival had even officially begun:
Like everyone else, Captain Sam paused for frequent breaks at the local pubs.
I'm so glad that you went - that's where I went for my hen weekend!
Posted by: Amelia | July 29, 2007 at 03:29 PM